‘Beyond ESAP’ Book published by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) in 1996.

This event is hosted by the ZCTU’s research think-tank, the Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe (LEDRIZ) which was mandated by the ZCTU to undertake the update study that led to the publication of the book we are launching today. I chair the Board of LEDRIZ and hence was tasked with being the Director of Ceremonies at this occasion.

This book launch is therefore an important occasion for us in the labour movement, and civil society in general to advocate and promote a pro-poor and inclusive development strategy for Zimbabwe. As Robert Solow, one of the two economists that participated in the Commission on Growth and Development of the World Bank between 2006 and 2008 aptly stated, “In many ways, the more equitable the growth, the more sustainable it’s likely to be, because there will be less controversy, less disagreement, less resistance, and also there’s an enormous amount of talent in populations that needs to be tapped. Excluding some parts of the population, whether by gender, age, or ethnicity, from the benefits of growth loses the talents that they have. So in my view, it is not only desirable that they go together, it’s useful that they go together,” (World Bank, 2008: 62). More will be said about this strategy by the President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

By bringing together such a cross section of our population, we hope to recognize the beauty that lies in diversity, and to promote the spirit of smart partnerships that is so critical for national ownership of policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. As is now widely accepted, development policies stand a better chance of success when they are owned by the broad stakeholders – indeed, one swallow does not make a summer.